Circuit restorer



March 31, 1953 E. T. MCCURRY E-rm. 2,633,514

CIRCUIT RESTORER 2 SHEETS- SHEET l Filed April 6. 1948 Inventeurs: Eugene `T. Mc Curry.

John A Oppel, Mlrtn J. Quinlan,

y The if /ftorrwey March 31, 1953 E. T. MGCURRY ET AL 2,633,514

CIRCUIT RESTORER Filed April 6. 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Eugene T. McCUnry John A. Oppel, Mcmtin J. Quinlan, by MH- Their` Attorney Patented Mar. 31, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE and Martin J. Quinlan, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors te General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application April 6, 1948, Serial No. 19,364

(Cl. 20D-89.4)

l Claims.

This invention relates to electric circuit breakers and more particularly to automatically operable circuit breakers of the reclosing type.

Our invention is related somewhat to the devices disclosed in appiication Serial Number 19,249, filed April 6, 1948, now Patent No. 2,599,- 294, dated June 3, 1952, Thumin, and in application Serial Number 19,280, nled April 6, 1948, now Patent No. 2,612,574, dated September 3G, i952, Wyman, both of which are assigned to the same assignee as this application.

It is well known that fault conditions occurring on electric transmission and distribution circuits may be due to temporary causes such as lightning or in some cases such conditions may be more or less permanent in nature where the cause is not self-clearing such as would be the condition when a foreign object such as a tree limb becomes attached to the line. Experience has shown that a very large percentage of the order from 85 to 90 per cent of all faults are temporary or non-persistent in nature.

It is highly desirable in power distribution circuits to incorporate fuses and reclosing circuit breakers into the system in such a way as to achieve maximum protection per dollar of equipment cost. To this end it is necessary that reclosing devices have precise and unchanging time current characteristics to permit the use of a large number of fuses in constructions with reclcsing circuit breakers so as to achieve optimum protection per dollar of investment in protective equipment.

Accordingly, it is an object of our invention to provide an automatically operable reclosing circuit interrupter having precise time current characteristics which are relatively constant irrespective of ambient conditions thereby making possible year-round coordination of recloser to fuses and of recloser to recloser.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a reclosing device which is inherently capable of opening instantly for a preselected number of opening operations and thereafter to open a predetermined number of times with time-delay.

Still another object or our invention is the provision of a recloser having a relatively fast-operating resetting mechanism for the purpose of keeping the device in readiness for rapidly recurring line faults.

A further object of our invention is the provision of a reclosing device which automatically locks open after a predetermined number of opening operations Where the fault condition is of a persistent nature.

A still further object of our invention is the provision of an automatically operable reclosing device which can be readily converted from the locked-open type to the locked-closed type.

Still another object or our invention is to provide a reclosing device having a main operating coil and a relay coil for positively advancing a timing mechanism to a predetermined lockedopen or, if desired, to a locked-closed condition.

Still another object of our invention is the provision of an operating mechanism for a reciosing circuit interrupter wherein the mechanisirL includes a member which is rotatable in response to preselected opening operations occurring during a persistent fault on the circuit to be controlled to achieve time-delayed opening for such preselected operations.

Another object of our invention is the provsion of an operating mechanism for a reclosing circuit breaker. wherein the mechanism is provided with a member which is rotatable in response to closing operations of the device to achieve time-delayed closing of the circuit breaker.

Still another object of our invention is to provide an operating mechanism for a reclosing circuit breaker wherein the mechanism is provided with an opening relay and a rotatable member which is rotated during certain opening operations performed by the opening relay and which is rotated during closing operations of the circuit breaker where persistent faults are encountered for the purpose of accomplishing a nal lock-out or, if desired, a locked-closed condition of the circuit breaker.

Further objects and advantages of our invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize our invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of our invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is an elevational view in section of an electric circuit breaker embodying our invention wherein the various parts are shown in the positions which they occupy when the circuit breaker is closed; Fig. 2 is an elevational view in section of a circuit breaker embodying our invention wherein the various elements are shown in the positions which they occupy when the circuit breaker is automatically locked-open after a predetermined number of opening and closing operations occurring during a persistent fault, Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram showing schematically the electric circuit embodied in the 3 device shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and Fig. 4 is a detail View showing an arrangement for locking the contacts closed after a predetermined num ber of operations.

Referring now to the drawings, the circuit shown in Fig. 3 comprises a pair of main contacts I and '2, a bridging member 3, and a main operating coil 4 for opening the circuit through the main contacts I and 2 by moving the ,bridging member 3 out of engagement with the' main contacts. A relay coil controls the .opening of normally closed relay contacts 6 and 1. One end 8 and the other end Q'of'the 'circuitfsh'own in Fig. 3 are connected to the two terminals of the recloser, only one of which is shown in the drawings and which is designated by the numeral II). It will be seen that main operating coil 4 is short circuited by relay cont-acts 6 and I `during normal service conditions and that relay coil-5 carries line'current if main contacts I and 2 are in engagement with bridging lmember 3. rBhus excessive current Awill activate relay coil 5 which will open its contacts y5 and 1 thereby placing main operating coil 4 in the circuit which will move the bridging member 3 out of engagement with contacts I and 2 to complete aninterrupting operation. Terminal I6 and the other terminal of thedevice, .not shown, are both enclosed within insulators .such as i! which are mountedto the cover plate I2 of the device by means of adapter elements I3 and i4 and by the bolts I5. The operating mechanism is oompletely enclosed within .a metallic tank I6 which has an insulating lining I1 covering its inner surface. The cover I2 may besecured to the tank I5 by any suitable means such as by a plurality of bolts which are not shown. Formed into the flange I8 ofthe tank I6 is a peripheral groove I9. A-washer 2,6 is disposed within the groove Iiand bears against the flange 2i of the cover I2 to seal the tank and thereby to prevent the leakage of .oil .from within the tank i6 through the engaging surfaces of theanges I8 and 2|.

It is evident from Figs. 1 and2 that the operating mechanism embodying our inventiondepends from and istsupported by the cover I2. The circuit breaker is vsupported on a distribution circuit pol-e or theilike by means of suitable studs or bands, not shown, which are welded or otherwisesecured to the outer surface ofthe tank I6. Thusit will be `seen that the ywhole mechanism may be removed from the tank I6 by simply lifting the cover upwardly.

For thepurpose of supporting the mechanism, a substantially `U -shaped supporting structure is used. The -supportingstructure -25.incorpo rates the base member 26 therein which base member is `secured by welding or otherwise to plate- I2. Since Figs. land 2 are both sectional views, the base member 26 appears in section and the forward prong of the U does not appear. Atthe lower edge of each prong oi the supporting structure 25, there .is a projection 36 to which is bolted .the supporting arms 21. rSecured to the lower ends of the arms '21 is the assembly generally indicated at 2B. The assembly 28 in- Vcludesa supporting plate 29 to which the supporting arms 21 are :secured by iany suitable means such as the nuts` 3D. Secured to the. supporting plate29by means of 'bolts such as 32 are a plurality .of L-shaped members 31. Secured to theL-shaped arms 3l areA thelaminate'd structures '33 and A34 which/support themain operating coil winding 4 and the relay coil wind- The tank Icontains an'insulating iuid.

4 ing 5 respectively. Secured to the lower end of the laminations 33 and 34 is member 31 having the projections 38. Secured to the member 31 there is shown the supporting plate 39 which is bolted-'as at 45 to the projections 38 of the member 31. The interrupting chamber generally indicated at 4i comprises a lower plate 42 constructed 0I" insulating material and the side wall 43 which also is constructed of insulating material. The plate 42 is supported by the bolts 4d-andthe supporting plate 39. Bolts 44 preferably should be insulated by any suitable means .such as by the insulating sleeve 45.

The main interruptingccontacts I and 2 are disposed within the arcing chamber 4I and are supported on the bottom plate v42 thereof by means of terminal bolts 46 and 41. The bridging member 3 is secured to armature 48 by any semi-rigid construction which is adequate to .achieve a wiping engagement and disengagement between 'the bridging member v3.and contacts I and`2. .Suitably arranged oil expulsion ports II2 are vdisposed. in the walls vof the arcing chamber 4I. Y,For thevpurpose of biasing the bridging member f3 toward its closed position, the rcompressional spring 49 isr used.

The l.relay contacts 5 and-1 are operated by the mechanism vgenerally'indicated v.by the .numeral 55 in such a way as to delay the opening of the contacts 6 and 'I1 .until thearmature '5I of therelay has v.been moved upwardly to a point near theend of its 4opening strokefor purposes which will become yapparent .as the description proceeds.

The mechanism 5 0 incorporates the link 52` which is 4pivotally connected as at 53 to the relay armature 5I. The lower end of link 52 is pivoted at-54 to the member 55 which in turnlis pivoted to a fixed `member v5t secured to the arcing chamber wall 43 or which `may be supported in `anyother suitable manner. It will be observed that the .member v55y is constructed with the projection .51 extending along a portion of its .upper edge and also that the member 55ris provided with an .apertured projection 58 which servesasa means for mounting one end ofthe tension spring 59. Also .pivotally mounted at'56 is a member 56. VDisposed on the lower surface-.of the member 50 is .an apertured projection 6I to which is attached the other end of the spring 53. Member 60 is also provided with a vprojection 62 which .engages one endof the compression-.spring 63. The member 'Ellis also provided with a projecting pin 64 which engages a curved surface of `the curved ymember 65 which is mountedto a iixedpivot 65 which pivot may be secured to the wall 43 .of the arcf ing chamber. Springl serves to bias the membery 65 for rotation inthe counter-clockwise direction againstthe pin v34. mounted on the member 66. It will be observed that the surface 61 of -the member 6i) engages the projection 51 .on the member 55 in both Figs. 1 and `2. The contact 1 is pivotally mounted at 56 and islprovided with-.xa recess 63 into which'the projection 62 yon.the.rr-iemberil),is movable.` The vbottom of the recess-68 aiordsa surface against which the small `compression spring v63 is allowed to bear. The contact arm 1 is also constructed with a recess 69/whichcooperates with the projection '6I on the member 6I).

The operation of the delayed-action switch. 50 is as follows: Whenever the relay coil .5v is .sufficiently energized to impart upward. movement to its arm-ature 5I, the link 52 is elevated carrying 'with it the right hand end of the member 55. This motion of member 55 allows the projection 51 on the member 55 to move away `from the surface 6'! of the member 68, and, as the member 55 is rotated counterclockwise about the pivot 56, the spring 59 is elongated somewhat and a counter-clockwise movement is thereby exerted on the member 50. Member 6 is prevented from rotating in the counter-clockwise direction, howfever, for a short time due to the engagement of the pin 64 on member Si) with the curved camlike surf-ace of the curved member 65. As the arm 52 continues upwardly, the forwardly projecting pin 54 eventually engages the curved member 65 and causes such member to be rotated in the clockwise direction about its ixed pivot 65. This clockwise rotation of the member U55 will cause the pin 54 to ride over the curved cam-like surface of the member 65 due to the Apull o f tension spring 55 and will permit counterclockwise rotation of the member 55 about xed pivot 58. This counter-clockwise rotation of "member 6|) will cause the contact arm i to be rotated counter-clockwise due to the engagement 'of the projection 5l on the member @il with the upper edge of the recess 69 in the contact arm 1. In this way the contacts and i are separated Athereby removing the short' circuit from around the main operating coil 4 which thereby causes the fault current to iiow through coil i and initiates an opening operation of the bridging member 3.

When relay armature 5| is allowed to descend as will be more fully explained hereinafter, the link 52 moves downwardly thereby causing the member 55 to be rotated clockwise. The projection 5'! on the member 55, which is in engagement with the surface 61 of the member 5G, causes the member 55 to be rotated clockwise about the pivot 55. The projection 5| on the member `55 causes the contact arm l to move clockwise about the pivot 56 and eventually causes vthe contact Tl to engage the contact 6. In the meantime the pin 54 on the member 55 will have moved along the curved surface of the member 55 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that 'shown in Fig. 1. The compression spring B3 provides the necessary pressure to hold contacts v'6 and 'l closed under normal conditions. It transmits the force from link 65 to contact 1. i It is apparent that the delayed-action switch 50 will maintain the contacts 5 and 1 in engagement during the initial portion of a circuit opening operation and will permit the contacts to 'separate when the relay armature 5| has moved to a point very near to the end of its stroke.

The timing mechanism embodied in our invention is generally designated by the numeral 'l2 which mechanism will now be described. The numeral 13 designates a iixed shaft which is supported at the front and rear by a journal engage- .ment in projecting portions 14 which are formed 'integrally with the downwardly extending arms oi the generally U-shaped supporting structure 25.

As pointed out above, only the rear one of these downwardly projecting arms is shown and 'is in broken lines in the drawings. 1Etotatable about the shaft 'i3 is a ratchet wheel 'I5 which has notched portions 'l5 and 'H about its periphery and which also is constructed with the smooth or unnotched portions i8 and 19. Also rotatable about the shaft I3 and secured to the ratchet wheel 'l5 by anyv suitable means such as by rivets is a gearwheel 85 whose entire periphery is provided with gear teeth. Both the ratchet wheel '|5 and the gear wheel 80 are provided with an arcuate slot 8| for a purpose which will be apparent as the description proceeds. Secured to the ratchet wheel '|5 and rotatable about shaft 13 as a center point is a drum 82 on the periphery ofl which is wound the lower end 33 of spring 84, Vafxed to some point on the periphery of drum 82. The opposite end of spring 84 is attached to aperture E5 in a down-turned portion of the supporting plate 25.- The tension spring 84, as will be evident from the drawings, is adapted to exert a counter-clockwise turning moment on the ratchet wheel 'l5 and the gear wheel 85 and is for the purpose of resetting the ratchet and gear wheels as will be more fully understood as the description proceeds.

The speed of rotation of ratchet wheel 15 and ofgear wheel S5 is governed by an escapement mechanism which will now be described. Secured to the downwardly extending arms 25 of the supporting structure having the base 25 is a shaft 55. Rotatable on shaft 55 is a pinion 9|, the teeth of which engage the teeth of the gear Sti at all times. Secured to the pinion 9| and rotatable therewith is a ratchet wheel 92 which cooperates with the oscillatory escapement member 93 which is 'pivoted at its center point to the pin 94 Iwhich pin is secured to the supporting arms 25. Rotation of gear 8| will cause rotation of pinion 9|, ratchet wheel S2 and the interaction between the teeth of the ratchet wheel 92 and the projections of the oscillatory member 93 will `afford a time-delaying action in a manner well known in the art.

In order to interrelate the opening operations of the relay armature 5| and the ratchet wheel l5, an opening pawl 96 is used. Pawl 95 is pivotally mounted at 97 to the arm 38. A torsional spring is used tobias pawl 96 for rotation about pivot 9'! in the clockwise direction so that, unless prevented from doing so, the pawl 96 will engage the periphery of the ratchet wheel '15.

The arm 98 is U-shaped and the prongs thereof are pivotally mounted at their right hand ends on the shaft i3. The arm 98 is connected to the member IQB by a pin |i| which is interposed between and secured to the front and rear prongs 'of the U-shaped member 98 and which pin is adapted to ride in the arcuate slots 8| in both the ratchet wheel and the gear wheel. The lower end of the member ||l|l is pivotally connected to the armature 5| by any suitable means such as by the pin 35.

In order to cause the pawl 95 to become disengaged from the periphery or' the ratchet wheel i5 when the arm 98 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, a projection |52 is provided which is secured by any suitable means to a downwardly extending portion of one or both the arms of the U-shaped supporting structure 25.

For the purpose of interrelating the closing operations of the armature 48 and the ratchet wheel 'l5 and the gear wheel 85, a closing pawl |05 is provided. Pawl |55 is pivotally mounted to arm |06 by any suitable means such as by a pin |81. The pawl |535 is biased for rotation about pivot pin |51 in the clockwise direction by means of a torsional spring |08. Arm |65 is pivotally supported at its left hand end on the shaft |3. In order to cause the pawl to move out of engagement with the periphery of the ratchet wheel 15 during a circuit closing operation, a pin V|05! is-provided which is supported by a downwardly extending portion of one or both the arms aesaom Milt rwhich biases. .th-e arm -113'for1'otation inthe 'clockwise direction. The arm |15 is pivotally connectedvatits flefthandfend to the lower end lofthe arm 113 by sak pin 16. VArm 111 .is'pivotally connected tothe right hand :end of .the arms 115 and y1.43.15 byapivotal connection to the .pin 1.01. .Arm 1'11 .is provided vwith .a islot 118 through :which the pin 1 119 is.slidable. .Pin-1 1.9 is mounted .on an arm '12o which is pivoted 'ai-,1121 kto the -.supporting-structure25. Atension-spring 122is connected at its leftihand end tothe supporting vl-etructur'e'ZE and at-itsright .hand .end to the .pin 11e. A pin 123 .is secured tothe lratchet wheel l'1.5fandfhence.is rotatable therewith. When vthe Amechanism is operatedsoas to `advance thepin "123 .from the closed position of the'recloser .as islfiown '.inFig..Y l .to the open position of thedevice ramshcwn in Fig. 2, the `.arm 113 will be -rotated by thexpin 123 in.the"counter-clockwise ydirection .about .its supporting shaft 9'9- against the 'action of the tension spring 1 14. Thissaction causes the link1115 to-be'movedto the right. The slot 115a inl linkaccommo'dates the .pin 151l and. allows this motion to th-e "right of link .115 .to takeplace. Immediately following'this motion to the right fof vlink 115, link i 1-wi1lbe moved upwardlyvdue tol-the iinal opening-operation which will move 'theifslotted link 1 I5 upwardly so thaty engagement :of the pin .119 with the upper lsurface of dink 11S-will rotatethe .arm 12%). in the-counter-cloc'kwise :directionabout' iixed pivot 12 1. Thismove- -ni-ent ofarm 120'will movethespring i22over center. The spring 122 will 'cause .further rcounter-clockwise movement of the arm 120 about .its pivot |21. It-'will be apparent, there- -.fore,-that the-.position ofthefarm 120 as 'shown in fFigfZ together lwith `theaction ofspring 1,22 will tpreventvdownward motion of -thelink 111, thelinkd 1li,V armature-.1 i2, and the contact bridging member 3, whereby the mechanismwillbe effectively locked open.

For the purpose. of closing the main'contacts aiterthebreaker islocked-:out-andfor the purposeer manually opening the main contacta-.the arm .125 is provided which is vpivoted to .ai'i-xed member-.1276. yCircularopening 121 is incorporated in theright hand end of the arm 125 .and-an .openingifZSis incorporated intheleft hand end of-.the member 125. :If ,the breaker is closed as shcwn inFig. 1 y'and if itis desiredfto manu-ally open the breaker, a'rod'or other device having ahookedend.is-manually inserted into the opening 121 and .then :pulled downwardly. This .downward'motion `of the :right hand end of member 125 causes lupward. moti-on of the left ,hand end of member 25. When-thelower-sury .facebfrthfe :opening 12 S engages f pin '1 19,',the1link .11.1,thelink 1 10, vthe. armature 48, and the bridg- 4,ing member -3-.are all elevated and the parts Yassume the f contact. open {position zshownin :Zand the .device y.will balockedfopen.

vcircuit will be interrupted. vmovement hasprogr'essed a slight distance, the

. If thedevice Lis. .lo cked .open manuallyh oit-auto#- .matically so that .thefparts Hoccupy the .position .shown in Fig...2, to close the contacts, yit v'is only necessary to elevatethe kright hand en'd of the member 125 .therebyrota'ting the army 1`20ina .clockwisedirection .about its .pivot v121 'which action permits the arm 111, the'arm 11`0,..the armature .48 and -the bridging .member 3 t'o .be vlowered .to .close the .contacts under .the Yacti'or'i of biasingspringAS. .'Inorderto cover'the opening .in ktheicover l2 through whichth'e meib'e'r .1.25 extends, we provide a covering shield '129.

.It will .be .understood .that .our .invention could .be adapted to perform, within limits, a .relatively Wide .range .of -opening V.and .-'closing operations wherein `certain `.of .these operations 'WoIdb'e time-delayed and whereinoertain others .could :be made to .occur almostinstantly .Forfpe'r- `sistent `faults the yparticular vembodiment .of .our

invention described fabove and yshownin Figs.

.and 2. is` adapted .to perform .a yfirstfin.stanta'ne'ou's opening y operation `followed .by a time-.delayed closing operation, .a secondinstantaneouscopening operation yfollowed bya time-delayedclosing operation, a third opening-operation whichlis .time-delayed .followed '..by .a third .time-.delayed vclosing ,.operation, and a .fourth opening operation lwhich .is .time-delayed v1`followed .by .a .'nal lo cir-.out operation.

.Assuming that .the interrupter is closed as shownv in Fig. l, a Y fault .condition .onthe circuit controlled by the device will cause an excess amount of .current .to vflow .through-the. relayeo'il ..5 which willimmediately cause-itsarmature.51

to move upwardly. .As the-armature `51 moves upwardly, the. .arm 98 will move clockwise-:about the shaft 'i3 yand .thepa'wl-SS.willibecomedisengaged .from .the projecting ,member .t0/2. 'Torslonalspring will rotate pawliin .the clockwise directioncausng the pawl `to engage .the

.smooth portion .it .of the .ratchet :wheel ."15. .l-Iencc, pawl .9E willfbe .freeto slide along .the ,ratchet wheel .l5 without yappreciable .impediment,.and the armature 5 1 and .parts 4rassociated Ytherewith .will move .rapidly in .the .upwarddi- .rectiorL Near the end or" theupper limitof .travel of thearinature, the contacts 6 .and '1 willopen .turn causethe .pawl ,135 Vto move upwardly a counter-clockwise direction .withrespect .to the ratchet wheel fBridgingrnembeLB will move out of engagement with contacts 1 and.2 and the When this opening pawl lli willbecome disengagedvfrom'thelstop Ita and the torsionl spring itt will rotatethe pawl Hili in a 'clockwise direction `about Athe pivot i'll. This'clockwise rotationof pawl 155 will cause the pawl to engage the smooth portion'TS of the ratchet wheel l5 for a limited time. `When the armature t3 has reached the limit ofv its upward travel, the'pawl iet-will engage the toothed ysection 'it ofthe' ratchet wheel '15. "The bias kof spring'v together with the weight o'f'theparts Awill automatically cause thearmature 48, 'the bridging meinber, the connecting link. I 10'pawl Vliitand armatureil tomove downwardly. .Be-

cause .the paw-'l 1.85 isinengagement with `the .toothedfsection '7.5. ofthe .ratchetwheel y'15, downward motion of pawl will cause clockwise rotation of the ratchet wheel and the gear wheel 8D. Rotation of gear wheel 80 will rotate the ratchet wheel S2 through the pinion 9i and time-delay will be achieved by the oscillatory motion of the member S3 about the perimeter of the ratchet wheel 92. Thus, the yclosing operation of the device will be vimc-delayed a predetermined amount. if the fault condition should have cleared itself, the bridging member 3 will remain in engagement with the contacts i and 2 and the ratchet wheel 'l5 and the gear wheel 8!) will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction to the reset position as shown in Fig. l by the action of spring 3.1i.

Should the fault persist, however, another opening operation will be initiated. The smooth portion 'it of the ratchet wheel l5 is sufficiently long to aiiord no opposition to upward opening movement of the opening pawl S5 during the second opening operation. The device, therefore, will open substantially instantaneously as previously described and will reclose with timedelay as already described since the pawl It will still be operating on the notched section i5 of the ratchet wheel.

Should the fault condition persist after the second reclosing operation, the relay coil 5 will elevate its armature 5l but at a slower rate because the preceeding two time-delayed reclosing operations will have been sufficient to advance the ratchet wheel "i5 in a. clockwise direction to a point where the notched portion il of the ratchet wheel '.'5 will be presented for engagement with the pawl Eii. Further upward motion of armature 5l, connecting link itil, arm 98 and pawl 95 will cause the ratchet wheel l5 and the gear wheel t to rotate in a clockwise direction. This clockwise rotation rotates the ratchet wheel S2 through the pinion and, as previously explained, time-delay will be achieved through the oscillatory action of the escapement member $33. When the armature 5i has reached a point near the end of its upward travel, the relay contacts B and i will be opened as previously described and main coil rl will be energized thereby elevating bridging member 3 to open the circuit. 'Ihe two reclosing operations performed with timedelay and the one opening time-delayed operaation thus described will not have been sui'lcient to advance the notched section '15 of the ratchet wheel 'i5 beyond the pawl i555 and so the 'pawl will engage the notched section 'it of wheel 'i5 and permit the main contacts to close with time-delay as previously described.

Should the fault still persist, the interruptor will open with time-delay as described above in connection with the third opening operation since the pawl 9% will still be in a position to engage the toothed section of the ratchet wheel 55. Upon completion of this fourth and final opening operation, the pin 123 will have been advanced from the position shown in Fig. l to the position shown in Fig. 2 and the lock-out linkage will proceed to force the arm 23 over center to achieve nal lock-out as already described. Briefly stated, the engagement of the pin 23 with the arm iiE causes counter-clockwise rotation of the member E13 about its iixed supporting pin SE and movement to the right of link H5 which operation is followed immediately by an opening operation which elevates the armature 5.6, the link l it, the link i il and the link i l5 upwardly. With link H5 in the position shown in Fig. 2 the right-hand end thereof is in a position l0 to collide with pin H9 causing rotation of the member |26 to its locked-out position.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the device is readily adaptable to being converted from a locked-open device to a lockedclosed device. For this purpose it is only necessary to dispose a xed pin such as lia on any fixed structure, such as the portion lli of supporting structure 25, in such a position that it will engage a pin 86a disposed on the ratchet wheel '.15 or the gear wheel 8i? so that immediately after the device has performed the desired number of opening and closing operations, the pin on the gear or on the ratchet wheel will engage the xed stop so as to prevent upward motion of the armature 5l and parts associated therewith thereby preventing the opening of the contacts 6 and In Fig. 4, the pin 80d is shown on the gear 89 but of course could be on the ratchet wheel 15, in which event the pin 'Ilia would be mounted on the forward member i4 not shown. In this way a fault condition on the circuit is forced to either burn itself ofi' or to blow an appropriate fuse or, in the event of fuse failure, to trip a station breaker.

If the recloser is operated to final lockout and. is then manually closed, the mechanism will not trip on account of transient inrush currents because the opening pawl will be in engagement with the ratchet wheel so that the ratchet wheel cannot reset to the position shown in Fig. l. rrhus opening subsequent to a manual closing opei'ation will be time-delayed and useless tripping, due to transient currents, will be avoided.

While we have shown and described a particular embodiment of our invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from our invention in its broader as.- pects and we, therefore, intend in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall Within the true spirit and scope of our` invention.

v What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. An electric circuit reclosing device comprising relatively movable interrupting contacts, electro magnetic means for opening said contacts, a relay having an armature and a pair of normally closed control contacts in shunt with said electromagnetic means and being operable responsive to predetermined circuit fault conditions for opening said control contacts to cause operation of said means for opening said interrupting contacts, means for closing said interruptingr contacts, timing means including a rotatable member having smooth and notched portions about its periphery, means for determining the velocity of rotation of said member, an opening pawl directly attached to and movable with said armature of said relay and engageable with said rotatable member to cause rotation thereof when said pawl is in engagement with a notched portion of said rotatable member but not when said pawl is in engagement with a smooth portion of said rotatable member thereby accom"- plishing substantially instantaneous and time delayed opening operations respectively of said interrupting contacts, and a closing pawl connected to and movable with a movable one of said interrupting contacts, said closing pawl being engageable with said rotatable member to cause rotation of said rotatable member due to engagement with a notched portion of said ro- -seseiem tatable member to accomplish time, delayedclos'- ing operations, ofn saidinterrupting` contacts:

2..An. electric circuit reclosing device; comprising relatively movable contacts, means' for opening said contacts, means for closing said contacts, control relay means having a coil and an armature and beingresponsive to predetermined. fault conditions for initiating a circuit opening operation by said means for opening saidcontacts, a rotatable member having smooth and notched portions about its periphery, means for. determining the velocity of' rotation of'said rotatable member, an opening pawl directly attached to and movable with said armature, said openingv pavJl being adapted to cause rotation of saidmember Whenever. during an opening` operationsaid opening pawl isin engagementk with a notched portion or" said member.4 thereby toaccomplish time delayed openingof'said contacts, anda closingpatvl interconnected WitliV andi movable with a, movable one of said contacts, said closing` pawl being adapted to causerotation of said member Whenever during aciosing operation said closing pav/lY is inV engagement with` a notched portion of said member' thereby to ac'- complish time delayed closing of said contacts.

3. An electric circuit reclosingv device comprising relatively movable contacts; main current responsive, means for opening said contacts, relay means including an. operating winding-and angarmature for initiating a contact separating operation by said main current Yresponsive means, means for-'imparting closing movement to said contacts, a rotatable member, means for controlling the velocity vof rotation of said member, means movablewith a movable one oi said contactsV for engagingv said rotatable member to cause rotation thereof during` closing movement ofsaid contacts, opening control means movable with said armaturefor engaging said, rotatable member, iixed stop means; and aninterference member'movable with saidv rotatable'member-'and engageable with said stop means after'predetermined rotation or" said rotatable member;y said opening control means being effective-upon engagement with said rotatablemember to prevent opening movement of said armature after engagement between said stop means and said interference member.

4. In an electric circuit reclosing device, relatively movable interrupting contacts, electromagnetic means'- for impartin1T opening movement to said contacts, control relay means responsive to predetermined circuit fault conditionsf for causing energization of said electromagnetic meansto open said contacts, automatically operable means forclosing said contacts', timing means includingA a rotatable member, means movable vvitn said control relay means for engaging and rotating said rotatable member when said member occupies predetermined' angular positions tocause delayed operation or" said electromagnetic means butnot when' said member is in anangularfposition other than said predetermined' positions, said last named means being incapable of: moving independently of said control relay, and' means' movable Witha movable one oi said contactsifor engaging and rotating said ro.- tatable memberfduring closing operations of said deyicezror delaying closing operationsv ofv said contacts.

5. In an electricA circuit reclosing device, relatively movableinterrupting contacts, electromagneticmeans for imparting. opening movement to said? contacts, control relay. means responsive to predetermined' circuit fault" conditionsT for cans:- ingenergiaation of said electromagneticmeans to open said contacts, automatically operable means for closing said contacts, timing means including a rotatable member, means movable With ysaid control relay means for engaging and rotating said rotatable member when said member-'occupies predetermined angular positions to cause delayed operation of said electromagnetic means but not when said member is in an angularpos'ition other'than said predetermined positions, said last named means being incapable of moving independently or said control relay, means movable with a movable one of said contacts for engaging and rotating said rotatable member during closing operations of. saidA device for delaying closingk operations of said contacts, and means operable in response to a predetermined total rotational movement oi'said member for locking said contacts in tbe open circuitposition.

6. In an electric circuit' reclosing device, relatively movable interrupting contacts, electromagnetic means for impartingopening movementto said contacts, control relay means responsive to predetermined circuit fault conditions, orxcausiing energization ci said electromagnetic means to open said contacts, automatically operableY means for closing said contacts, timing means including a rotatable member, means movableY With said control relay means for engaging and .rotating said rotatable member when said member occupies predetermined angular positions to causedelayed operation of said electromagnetic means butV not Whensaid member is in an angular position other than said predetermined positions, said last named means being incapable of moving independently of said control relay, means moviable with a movable one of said contacts for engaging and rotating said` rotatable member dur;- ing closing operations of said device for delaying closing operations of said contacts, said last named meansA being incapablev of. moving independently of said movable one of said contacts, and means operable in response to a predetermined number of operations of said contacts for preventing further automatic operation of said device. 1

7. An electric circuit reclosingdevice comprising relatively movable main Contacts moviablebetween open and closed positions, relay means including control contacts and an armaturer operable in response to predetermined conditions of current in said device, main current responsive means for imparting opening movement to said main contacts in response to operation of said-control contacts, means for closingr said-main contacts, a member adapted for incrementalmovement, means movable with said armature for causing movement of said member, said last named means being incapable of, moving independently of said armature, means operable in response to closingv movement of said main contacts for causing movement of said member', said last named. means being incapable of moving independently of a movable one of said mainv contacts, and means responsiveY to a predetermined 'movement of said memberl for causing said main contacts to occupy a predetermined position.

8. An electric circuit'reciosing device comprisingu relatively movable main contacts movable between open and closed positions, relay means including control contacts and an armature operable in response to predetermined conditions of current in said device, main current responsive means for imparting opening movement to said main contacts in response to operation of said control contacts, means for closing said main contacts, a member adapted for incremental movement, means movable with said armature for causing movement of said member, means operable in response to operation of said means for closing said main contacts for causing movement of said member, a lockout linkage biased toward a normal position and movable to an operated position in response to predetermined advancement of said member, an element of said linkage being movable in response to relative movement of said main contacts, and lockout means movable from a normal position to an operated position by said element in response to opening movement of said main contacts after said linkage including said element has been moved to its operated position.

9. An electric circuit reclosing device comprising relatively movable main contacts movable between open and closed positions, relay means including control contacts and an armature operable in response to predetermined conditions of current in said device, main current responsive means for imparting opening movement to said main contacts in response to operation of said control contacts, means for closing said main contacts, a member adapted for incremental movement, means movable with said armature for causing movement of said member during opening movement of said armature, means operable in response to operation of said means for closing said main contacts for causing movement of said member, a lockout linkage biased toward a normal position and movable to an operated position in response to predetermined advancement of said member, an element of said linkage being movable in response to relative movement of said main contacts, a toggle mechanism biased toward one position and operable to an operated position by said element after movement of said linkage to an operated position and in response to opening movement of said main contacts, and means responsive to movement of said toggle to its operated position for restraining said main contacts in the open position.

10. An electric circuit reclosing device comprising relatively movable main contacts movable between open and closed positions, relay means including control contacts and an armature operable in response to predetermined conditions of current in said device, main current responsive means for imparting opening movement to said main contacts in response to operation of said control contacts, means for closing said main lcontacts, a `member adapted for incremental movement, means movable with said armature for causing movement of said member, means operable in response to operation of said means for closing said main contacts for causing movement of said member, a lockout linkage biased toward a normal position and movable to an operated position in response to predetermined advancement of said member, an element of said linkage being movable in response to relative movement of said main contact a toggle mechanism biased toward one position, and operable to an operated position by said element after movement of said linkage to an operated position and in response to opening movement of said main contacts, means responsive to movement of said toggle to its operated position for restraining said main contacts in the open position, manual means for moving said toggle to its operated position, said toggle being operative to effect opening of said contacts when moved to its operated position by said manual means.

EUGENE' T. MCCURRY. JOI-IN A. OPPEL. MARTIN J. QUINLAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 508,652 Thomson Nov. 14, 1893 2,069,082 Walle Jan. 26, 1937 2,100,893 Anderson Nov. 30, 1937 2,333,604 Wallace Nov. 3, 1943 2,464,303 Gesellschap Mar. 15, 1949 2,468,851 Wallace May 3, 1949 2,487,025 Matthews Nov. 1, 1949 2,560,831 Van Ryan et al. July 17, 1951 

